There are many other horses whose names are known in history.  There was Copenhagen, the Duke of Wellington’s favorite charger, that carried him for ten hours through the battle of Waterloo.  Copenhagen lived to a peaceful and honored old age, but he had a fancy for sponge cake and chocolate creams, and he died at last from eating too many sweets.

Then there was Roan Barbary, Richard the Second’s favorite, and Agnes, who carried Mary, Queen of Scots.  Washington’s big white horse, whose picture you have often seen, was carefully tended and cherished as long as he lived.

In art the horse is the emblem of courage and generosity, and as we know him to-day he is not lacking in these noble traits.

HOW TO TREAT HORSES.

It is quite safe to say that of all animals the horse best repays kind treatment.  The better you treat him, the better horse he is, and the more work he can do.

Yet no animal is more frequently abused and neglected than the horse.  He is left standing in the cold without a blanket or only partly covered; he is whipped by angry drivers; he is ill fed; and he is kept in a dark, close stable for days at a time.

A horse is often brave in facing a danger which he understands.  He can be trained to go into dangerous places without shrinking.  But it is well to remember that a horse learns only by seeing and smelling, and that a new sight which he does not understand will fill him with terror.  He is steadfast before the danger he knows; he is timid as a deer before the danger he imagines.

It should be the business of any one having the care of a horse to let him examine everything that may frighten him.  If a horse shies, lead him up gently to see and smell what he is afraid of.  He may not dare to go near it the first time, but patience and kindness will teach him, while blows and angry words will only frighten him more.

A bit of paper blowing in the wind is enough to frighten many horses.  Their eyes are not like ours, and often on coming out of a dark stable they are so blinded by the light that familiar things look strange to them.  To pick up flying pieces of paper may prevent a serious accident.

[Illustration:  Three members of A Temperance society.  By J. F. Herring.]

If a horse can be used without blinders, he will be more comfortable and can see better where he is going.  He is not so likely to be frightened if he can see what is on each side of him.

Sometimes a horse will not cross water or bridges.  It is of no use to whip him; he will only grow more frightened.  The best plan is to wait until another horse comes along and goes over the bridge.  Then the timid one sees that nothing dreadful happens, and he follows quietly.

A horse that is frightened in his stall will often refuse to be led out.  If his harness is put on him, he rarely objects to following his master.